No tent or trailer? No problem. Three camping cabins are now available at Spring Lake in Santa Rosa. Each features sleeping platforms with mattresses plus decks, porches, and big outdoor areas for cooking and eating. (See more photos in this slideshow.) Designed by Cal Poly Pomona architecture students, the wedge-style cabins offer a new experience for folks who may not have the gear or inclination for traditional camping. Who calls top bunk?

With nearly 1 million visitors each year, Doran Regional Park is a much-loved destination for campers and beach-goers from all over Northern California and beyond. So we're thrilled to have just opened the park's first visitors center, a place where we can showcase the plants, animals and sea life of Bodega Bay and encourage guests to help preserve coastal habitats. The center is open weekends through November as part of our 50th anniversary celebration.

Some of the best mountain biking in Sonoma County can be found in its regional and state parks. From easy trails at parks like Helen Putnam in Petaluma or Foothill in Windsor to epic climbs on Hood Mountain or the rocky singletrack at Annadel, here's a round up of favorite parks for mountain biking.

Our Trails Challenge hikers are covering a lot of ground and sharing some beautiful images, like this scene from Gualala Point Regional Park by Instagrammer @sonomajules. We're more than halfway through the Challenge, but there's still time to download your free trails guidebook and make five hikes by Sept. 30. Get a free T-shirt while supplies last, and tag your photos #SonomaCountyParks #TrailsChallenge for membership and gear giveaways.

What's better than a summer concert? A summer concert that's also a parks party! Thanks to the Sonoma County Regional Parks Foundation and the Funky Fridays concerts at Hood Mansion, the Aug. 25th show will host a "pop up" parks party in honor of our 50th. Hear the Jami Jamison Band, relax in REI's gear lounge, try special menus from local food vendors, pick up parks info from our Mobile Discovery Center, and get a free ticket for prizes like parks memberships and REI gift cards.

Summer's winding down, but lucky for us, Sonoma County's fall weather is still ideal for outdoor fun. Our
fall activities guide brings together dozens of adventures planned for September through November. Chose from new outings like stand-up paddleboard classes, paddleboard yoga, fishing lessons, and history tours or favorites like bird walks, family hikes, and the
Tolay Fall Festival.

Officially, we have a no-foraging policy in the parks, but it's that time of year when vine-ripened blackberries are terribly hard to resist. We'll understand if you take a hike break to graze like a bear. We just ask that you stay on trail and practice moderation: Think half-pint, not bushel.

Planning the Next 50 Years of Parks

Celebrating our 50th anniversary has been great fun this year, but it's also been a time to consider the coming decades. What will the next 50 years hold? If you'd like to learn about future needs and opportunities for parks countywide, plan to join us the evening of Sept. 21 in Santa Rosa for a "parks summit" with community leaders. We'll share more details and an opportunity to RSVP in September's newsletter.